Cold in Vienna: On Kärntner Strasse

Vienna, Austria

It was cold and rainy when I arrived in Vienna. I guess that was to be expected in mid-October, but it still didn't lessen the disappointment. The skies where horribly overcast and I wasn't feeling like there was much hope for photography on this trip.

It had been raining most of the day, but late in the afternoon the weather began to clear a little. So, I decided to make for the best and try photographing in the Innere Stadt.

Beginning at Starbucks

A quick stop at Starbucks to get started was in order. The assortment of pastries available was much more than would expect to be found in a US Starbucks. It was hard to decide, but a chocolate muffin and coffee and a little people watching from a second floor table made me more than ready to begin my exploration.

The Plan and the Walk

My plan was to walk along Kärntner Strasse to Stephansdom, where I would catch the U-Bahn for the ride back to my hotel. Kärntner Strasse is a pedestrian walkway, with a diversified mix of historical buildings, traditional shops, cafe's and and stylish flagship stores.

Even though it was cold and rainy, that didn't stop people from enjoying the many cafe's along the street.

I found Arturo Toscanini's star along the way. There are other stars, from what I've read, but this is the only one that I found. Almost every street in Vienna's city center can recount stories of famous composers - including Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Brahms, Gluck, Vivaldi, Strauss, Salieri, Schubert, Schönberg, Bruckner and many more.

As I watched, people walked into and out of a flower stall, looking and buying a few items. I watched as the proprietor smoked and watched the early evening crowd.

Mozart

Ever present, even here, is Mozart. Here you can get Mozart souvenirs and the famous Mozartkugeln (originally known as "Mozart-Bonbon", created in 1890 by a confectioner in Salzburg), which is a praline made of mainly chocolate, marzipan and nougat.

Disappointment Averted

All too soon, the light was gone, and it was time to return to Stephansplatz where I could catch the U-Bahn back to my hotel. In the morning, I was due to leave early for Salzburg.

I ended my stay in Vienna with a deep sense of satisfaction. Yes, it had rained the majority of the time I was here, but the short walk down Kärntner Strasse was more than enough to lift my mood. Watching the people in the wet light, as they shopped and ate, reminded me that life goes in, in spite of the weather.

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